During of WW1 Australia committed to sending 5 divisions to the war. This was a considerable commitment in manpower for a relatively small nation. Australia had to supply and fit out these troops as well as provide raw materials to Britain. The manpower drain during the war affected the productivity of farming, as did drought and pestilence. This led to shortages for the general population. The Government instituted the War Precautions Act which introduced fixed prices for many products, to reduce inflation and profiteering. Australia did not introduce rationing during WW1, but shortages and scarcity were commonplace. The distance between Australia and the battle zones required the maritime transportation of soldiers and goods. Which in some cases were subjected the German Submarine Offensive and risk of sinking meant that ships often travelled in convoys. The loss of trading partners overseas contributed to a rise in unemployment at home. As the was progressed it was clear that the war was going to drag on, and more soldiers would be needed to replace losses. Due to the distances involved, only very badly wounded soldiers were returned to Australia, with most soldiers staying in the battle zones for prolonged periods. The War Precautions act also allowed for Enemy Aliens to be interned into camps. The Government had imposed a media blackout, and heavy censorship regarding the war. The Government wanted to introduce conscription to meet the needs of the current armed forces, and the aim of forming a 6th and possibly 7th Division. This led to unrest in the community as the Government introduced restrictions to speaking out against conscription in the lead up to plebiscites on the matter. Heavy handed propaganda was wide spread to essentially guilt those who were not serving, into joining up, or to guilt families into sending sons to war. Special badges were provided to workers in essential services and those who were unfit for combat, to spare them the vitriol of the general population and the dreaded ‘white feather’. Conscription was never implemented as both plebiscites resulted in a ‘no’ vote. Most soldiers at the front also voted no, as they understood the conditions on the Western front. Industrial action was also a factor in Australia during wartime, both at home and at the front. Pressures due to Australia’s commitment to the Commonwealth war effort caused strikes as workers were exploited to meet the needs of the Government promise. Pressure to meet the export timeline as well as lack of buying power for workers was a big driver for this. Great fundraising drives and loan schemes emerged to continue to fund the war effort, and these were militarised as they progressed. Australian women had a large role in the war, with many singing up as Nurses, and working or volunteering with the Red Cross at home.

“ Australia became one of the nations with the highest losses of men in WW1 (approximately 60000 in a population of roughly 5 million) and that member of the Dominion, which, again proportionately to its population, interned the highest number of German ‘enemy aliens’ (Fischer, 1989: 126), although the nation was geographically speaking one of the remotest from the theatres of war in Europe.” 

Sources:  From Hun-Beast to Abstract Threat: Portrayals of the German Enemy in Australian War Posters  Workers against Warfare: the American and Australian Experiences Before and During World War 1 Verity Burgmann and Jeffrey Johnson Women’s Mobilisation for War (Australia) by Rae France. Australians At Home WW1, Michal McKernan. Propaganda at Home (Australia) By Emily Robertson